Giada De Laurentiis’ 3-Ingredient Dip Is My New Favorite Party Trick
This easy, no-cook recipe is one you'll want in your back pocket.
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Recipes don't need to be fussy to be fabulous. Hey, even Ina Garten admits to warming up a Trader Joe’s French Apple Tart, adding ice cream and caramel sauce, and sharing it as a dinner party dessert!
So when chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author Giada De Laurentiis jumped online the week of Christmas to share a red-and-green dip recipe and called it “THE appetizer for the holidays this year”—and beyond, if you ask us—she was in very good company. We were immediately on board when we saw that the entire dish only asked for two ingredients and less than 15 minutes of prep time.
What’s in Giada’s 3-Ingredient Dip Recipe?
We're huge fans of the tomato, basil, and mozzarella salad (known as Caprese). Not only do we have a recipe for a traditional Caprese with balsamic, but we also love it when home cooks "Capres-ify" other dishes, such as quiche, burgers, chicken breasts, steak salads, and pasta.
So it’s no surprise we immediately stopped scrolling when we spotted Giada’s face behind a video headline that read “Caprese Ricotta Dip.” We’re delighted to add a new character to our cast of Caprese recipes now, thanks to De Laurentiis’ delicious and easy dish.
In December, the Food Network star posted a video on social media showing fans how to make her easy Tomato and Ricotta Caprese Dip. Although it might seem like odd timing, considering that Caprese really shines only when fresh tomatoes are in season, De Laurentiis has a brilliant hack for that. Instead of fresh tomatoes, crack open a can.
On her lifestyle website, Giadzy, De Laurentiis reveals the secret to a dip that's full of vibrant flavor: using great ingredients, including canned cherry tomatoes for their sweetness. (We should also note that when we asked nine chefs for the best canned tomatoes, the majority recommended Cento brand, and they have organic whole cherry tomatoes!)
In addition to the canned tomatoes, De Laurentiis recommends using “a nice whole-milk ricotta cheese and a high-quality balsamic vinegar.”
We’ll dive into the process below, but as a teaser, the result “tastes just like Caprese,” according to a De Laurentiis pal who took a bite in the video. “That is very good,” another pal confirms, inspiring De Laurentiis to exclaim, “Nailed it!”
How to Make Giada's Tomato and Ricotta Caprese Dip
Since the instructions looked super simple, I ran to my kitchen to follow De Laurentiis’ lead. You can find the complete recipe on Giada's website, but here's a simple overview:
Drain the can of cherry tomatoes, add a pinch of salt, then blend them in a food processor to form a chunky purée. Mix together the ricotta cheese, olive oil, and salt in a large bowl until combined. Spread the ricotta on a serving platter, and top with the tomato purée and torn basil leaves. Garnish with good-quality balsamic vinegar if desired.
What to Serve with Giada's Tomato and Ricotta Caprese Dip
De Laurentiis suggests pairing her Tomato and Ricotta Caprese Dip with crostini or crackers, but after sampling this lovely and bright taste of summer in the middle of winter, my brain started dreaming of other brilliant partners:
Baked strips or wedges of Pizza Dough
Slices or wedges of Sourdough Bread
Crudites
We're sure that whatever you pair with this easy dip is going to be a win. From impromptu get-togethers to game-watching parties, this simple recipe is one to keep in your back pocket.
Read the original article on ALLRECIPES
